Number crunch!

A BATTLE of the badges is brewing between unlikely rivals Peugeot and Holden Special Vehicles (HSV).

Peugeot Cars Australia is seeking clarification from its French headquarters on whether to take action against Holden’s performance vehicles division, which has a "307" badge on the bootlid of its latest E-Series range.

Peugeot claims to have a global trademark registration on the 307 nomenclature for its volume-selling small-car range, and is currently waiting on a response from France as to whether it should challenge the Holden hot-rod shop.

A Peugeot Cars Australia spokesperson declined to comment on the matter earlier this week, but confirmed to GoAuto that it had requested more information from its parent with regard to its position on the matter.

HSV, on the other hand, said it had no concerns and that the matter was nothing more than a simple coincidence.

"The numbering of the engine output of our vehicles is something we have always done," said HSV marketing manager Andrew McKenzie. "It is coincidental, if anything, that our power output is the same as their model (name)."The issue has arisen with HSV increasing the power output of its 6.0-litre LS2 V8 from 297kW to 307kW in the just-released VE Commodore-based ClubSport, GTS and Senator Signature E-Series models.